Dolphin Tales
Week of February 15th
Newsletter Overview
Below is a list of the articles in order within this newsletter...
Upcoming events
Mid-Winter Break: February 15th and 16th (NO SCHOOL)
Black History Month at Doherty (review article for special invitation to help us celebrate)
Thursday, February 18h: PTO Meeting via Zoom at 7:30 PM
Live Virtual Yoga on Zoom, Wednesdays at 11 AM
Wednesday, February 17th On-Demand Specials Focus: ART
Live Zoom Schedule for Specials (M, T, Th, F)
Headlines
Doherty Remote Survey Results
Awesome Book for Sale: It's Not Right or Wrong. It's Just Different by Kathy Jones
WB Student Academic Support--Tutoring Available
Technology Support
Free Meals Still Available
DOHERTY FAMILY PHOTO ALBUM
21-22 Kinder Corner
- Kindergarten Registration
- Incoming Kindergarten Child Information Form
- Virtual Tour of Doherty Elementary
Operations
Accessing Report Card Grades in PowerSchool
Technology Help
Capturing Kids’ Hearts Tools Link
COVID Safety Protocols Link
Parking Lot Procedures Link
Canvas Details Link
To-Do List
To-Do List (All Items Have More Details in Newsletter Articles)
- Review this Newsletter
- Mid-Winter Break: No School on Monday, February 15th & Tuesday, February 16th
- Help Us Celebrate Black History Month at Doherty. See article in newsletter for more details.
- Wednesday Virtual Yoga: Optional
- On-Demand Specials for Wednesday: ART
Mid--Winter Break: February 15th and 16th
February is Black History Month
February is Black History Month month, and it provides us with the necessary opportunity to dig deeper into Black History. As a result, we are celebrating in a couple of different ways.
For starters, we have been broadcasting morning video announcements during face-to-face cohort instruction that highlight Black History Month. We will anthologize the video announcements below as the month progresses, and we invite you to re-watch with your child at home.
Additionally, teachers are infusing various read alouds and activities into their classroom to highlight Black History Month.
Finally, we are inviting our kids and families to help us celebrate Black History Month by sending in videos or pictures that you feel would help us enhance this month's celebration. You can send your content via email to scott.long@wbsd.org or via text to 248-259-5595. Additional examples/instructions about potential video content you can create can be found in the videos below.
February 4th Video: Black History Month (Video #1: Introduction, Shirley Chisholm)
February 8th Video: Black History Month (Video #2, Bessie Coleman)
February 17th Video: Black History Month (Video #3, Hank Aaron)
Thursday, February 18th: PTO Meeting at 7:30 PM
Our Doherty PTO is excited to host our next PTO meeting at 7:30 PM this Thursday, February 18th. This meeting will take place via Zoom, and the link to the meeting is below.
Wednesday Live Virtual Yoga: Wednesday at 11 AM
Ms. Taylor looks forward to seeing you all this Wednesday at 11 AM for another session of live virtual yoga.
Once again, thanks to the Greater West Bloomfield Community Coalition, Taylor will be leading her live virtual yoga session this Wednesday and every Wednesday at 11 AM.
Your child can access the Zoom link for Taylor's yoga on his/her teacher's Canvas page OR the specials Canvas pages.
Video Demo Below: For Accessing Wednesday Live Virtual Yoga
Video Introduction Below: Meet Taylor Beardsall, Virtual Live Yoga Instructor
Wednesday, February 17th Specials Focus: ART
Each week, our children can engage in one on-demand specials activity that is loaded in Canvas for them. The specials focus will rotate each week.
This week, the focus will be ART. If you need help accessing ART materials, please contact Mrs. Hanifi. Her email is sophia.hanifi@wbsd.org
February 17th: Art
February 24th: PE
March 3rd: iCenter
March 10th: Music
March 17th: Art
March 24th: PE
Live Zooms for Specials on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
Doherty Remote Survey Results
Background Information
During the second week of January, we asked parents, students, and staff members to complete an engagement & satisfaction survey. The purpose of the survey was to collect feedback from our stakeholders regarding their experience with remote-only learning (since we were forced into remote-only learning from early-November to mid-January). While the survey primarily focused on remote-only learning, there were also questions related to our current hybrid learning model as well, including questions related to Canvas, overall logistics, and the impact of small group learning.
We would like to share some of the key findings from all three surveys. In an effort to provide you with clear and concise information, the infographic above provides a succinct summary of the statistical data we found when analyzing the survey results.
Moving Forward
It has been awesome to be able to explore the data. We definitely enjoyed celebrating the positives from the survey with our staff. Seeing positive feedback about our hard work is rewarding. Additionally, we are already noticing some gains in specific reading and math skills, compared to where we were at this time last year. Thank you for your kind words. Conversely, it has been equally exciting to pursue ways in which we can improve what we do based on your feedback. For example, we are already doing everything we can to prioritize small group instruction during our limited daily live learning. We also have teachers exploring ways in which we can strengthen how we deliver instruction on Canvas, specifically the levels of workload capacities, as well as methods for increasing engagement. We are even investigating ways in which our school community can provide additional avenues of support to families and children that struggle with managing hybrid/remote learning.
Awesome Book For Sale!
It's Not Wrong or Right. It's Just Different is written by Kathy Jones and illustrated by Christie Pal. Kathy was dedicated and amazing teacher in the West Bloomfield School District. I actually had the honor of working with and learning from her when I first started my career at Orchard Lake Middle School. Christie is a West Bloomfield alumni. I also had the honor of serving Christie during her time as a student at Orchard Lake Middle School.
Their book celebrates the power of diversity and is an excellent read for our children. It reflects the rich diversity in our community, and it provides a powerful sense of cultural awareness. Last week, on the morning announcements, I actually read portions of the book to our kids.
If you are interested in purchasing your own copy, you can email Kathy at: joneskathyann@gmail.com.
Seeking Evening Academic Support: Click Link Below
If you are looking for additional support for your child, you can access free tutoring from West Bloomfield staff members. Click on the link below to reserve your time slot.
Tech Support
FAMILY TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE
The Service Desk can only assist parents/guardians, not students. On the phone, a parent/guardian can grant verbal approval for their child to work with the Service Desk technician, but they MUST remain present during the entirety of the conversation.
Phone: (248) 209-2060
Email: oshelpdesk@oakland.k12.mi.us
Online Ticket Submission- servicedesk.oakland.k12.mi.us
When entering requests through the online portal or email, please be certain to include your full name, your child’s name and district, school building, the device they have been issued and a good phone number to call you back. This information will allow the Service Desk to provide the best possible service in the most efficient manner.
If you are in need of a district issued Chromebook, please complete an Oakland Schools Service Desk ticket.
District owned hotspots are available for those with no internet in the home due to financial hardship. If you are in need of a district owned hotspot, please submit an Oakland Schools Service Desk ticket.
If you are inquiring about PowerSchool, please email vickie.eis@wbsd.org.
If you are inquiring about student Google account information, this can be found in PowerSchool or your teacher can provide this information to you.
Free Meals Still Available
Meals are distributed every Wednesday at West Bloomfield HS from 11:30am-12:30pm and 3:30-4:30pm and Roosevelt Elementary from 11:00am-1:00pm.
Please preorder here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wVbzmc8iJQHZ10KLSwyS6MjpqtKEgKccMvdC06RtACY/viewform?gxids=7628&edit_requested=true .
Please call 248.865.6733 for questions and alternate meal pick up options.
In the Know with the PTO
Our PTO Board
Also the best way to find out Doherty PTO info is on our Liketree site linktr.ee/dohertypto
Our PTO Board is truly amazing. They embody what we are all about in the Doherty Family, and they always do what is best for our kids and staff. The PTO board includes:
Nicole Calvin, Vice-President
Sesilee Langs, Secretary
Renai Mayle, VP Of Fundraising
Joann Manetta, VP Of Committees
DOherty FAMILY Photo Album
21-22 Kinder Corner
Registration for 21-22 Kindergarten
School of Choice Applications: NOW CLOSED
Please note that the final day to apply through Schools of Choice was Tuesday, February 2nd. If you currently have a child that is already at Doherty or another WB school through Schools of Choice, please keep in mind that any younger siblings are NOT automatically "grandfathered" in.
Enrollment Process
Please note that, as listed below, we would like to have in-district families registered in Registration Gateway by February 17th. Please CLICK HERE to get started with the registration process.
Information About Kindergarten in the West Bloomfield School District
Kindergarten Information: Click Here
Welcome to Doherty Video
Incoming Child Information Form
Help Us With 21-22 Kindergarten Planning at Doherty
Between now and the start of the 2021-2022 school year, we will connect with all incoming kindergarten families to schedule a kindergarten readiness screener (as mentioned in our Kindergarten Round Up). Due to uncertainties related to COVID and to current COVID safety protocols in our buildings, we don't anticipate scheduling this screener until much later in the spring.
In the meantime, you can help us with planning by completing a Child Information Form. In this form, you also have the opportunity to request Kindergarten Plus for your child. Please CLICK HERE to access this form.
Doherty Kindergarten Showcase Slideshow
Doherty Elementary Virtual Tour
Accessing Report Card Grades in PowerSchool
Technology Help
FAMILY ASSISTANCE WITH TECHNOLOGY ISSUES
If you need technical assistance, you can request help from the Oakland Schools Technology Service Desks.
- Phone: (248) 209-2060
- Email: oshelpdesk@oakland.k12.mi.us
- Online Ticket Submission- servicedesk.oakland.k12.mi.us
Information for families is contained on the wbsd.org website under Technology. https://www.wbsd.org/departments/technology/chromebook-accident-and-loss-protection
The first thing families will need to do is submit an Oakland Schools Service Desk ticket if they have a damaged/lost/stolen device to make sure we are taking the proper steps in a timely manner. The steps Oakland Schools will take are outlined below.
· Determine if the issue is accident and loss protection applicable.
· Direct the parent to either one2one or Inacomp
· Deliver a spare to school building, pick up damaged device
· Submit damaged device for repair
· Contact parent to return original device and collect spare
Arrival & Dismissal: Staying Warm and Staying Safe
- Make sure your children dress warm--gloves, hats, winter jackets, etc.
- At arrival, make sure your child gets into and out of the car on the appropriate side.
Please continue reading for more details.
Dressing Warm
As long as the outdoor elements are safe enough, our dismissal plan includes our kids waiting outside for short periods of time for both buses and cars. With this in mind, please be sure that your child has all of the appropriate gear to stay warm during dismissal.
Exiting and Entering Cars on the Appropriate Side
As you know, we use two lanes in our parking lot to load and unload students during both arrival and dismissal.
- Cars using the lane closest to our sidewalk should plan on having their kids enter and exit the passenger side of the car.
- Meanwhile, cars using the lane closest to the interior of our parking lot should plan on having their kids enter and exit the driver side of the car.
- The diagram below provides a visual of what this looks like.
- If you need your child to exit on a specific side of the car, then please be sure to pull into the appropriate lane.
Follow the Doherty Family on Social Media
- Twitter: @Long_DohertyWB
- Facebook: facebook.com/DolphinsWB
- Instagram: @DohertyWB